I subscribe to the LDS Daily Gems and get great quotes by e-mail each day. I recently received the following quote titled “The Importance of First-Generation Members:”
“First-generation members occupy a special and important place in the Church and their families. Did you know that first-generation members constitute more than half of the membership of the Church? Perhaps not since the early days of the Church has the first generation constituted such a large percentage of total Church membership as it does today. Your faith and testimonies are a great strength and blessing to others. Through you, we gain a deeper understanding of gospel principles and our testimonies are strengthened.
“You add great strength to the Church when you use your testimony, talents, abilities, and energy to build the kingdom in your wards and branches. You are great examples of sharing the gospel, serving missions, sending children on missions, and welcoming new members. You reach out in kindness to those around you, lifting and blessing them through inspired service. So much of what is done in the Church today could not be done without your efforts.” (Paul B. Pieper, “The First Generation,” Ensign, Nov. 2006, 11-12)
How can modern technology help us in using our “testimony, talents, abilities, and energy to build the kingdom?”
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I’m a first generation member, and sadly now the only one in my family. My mom and sister left the church, and my father is an anti-Mormon Southern Baptist.
I’m also First Gen. I think the one area that is sorely lacking on the net is supplemental help for teaching and reaching teenagers. I’m not talking about the kitchy type stuff, as I can find that, but how do I make teens interested in Learning about Christ? How do I help them take what they learn into their lives? How do I create a good environment that works in the sunday school setting and actually gives them the Gospel?
I too, am a first generation member. It is very difficult and lonely as you find yourself not being able to share your joy in the gospel with those that you love the most. However, I also find it very exciting and challenging especially when I consider the amount of temple work I have to accomplish for my ancestors.
perfect timing.
as i felt the overwhelming need to bear my testimony yesterday to the young women, i shared with them this story:
i was looking at my 13 year old daughter and enjoying her beautiful face and i said to her that one day she will be 90 years old. she will have great grandchildren and i wont even be a distant memory. i wont have ever existed to them. as i discussed that since i wasn’t famous, nobody will really know who i was, i will just disappear. that’s when belle said “no mom, we are the first people to be mormon in our family, they will know who we are because of that”
what a wonderful thought! (from a child)
yes, we are the first generation and those great great grandchildren of mine will be grateful for my testimony.
Modern technology provides a platform for anyone to share their talents and strengths with others. Everything from youtube videos to blogs like this to podcasts and music allow testimonies to be shared with anyone around the world. A first generation member can find a whole world and application for their talents at their finger tips along with a supportive community that they might not find in their own families. Gospel scholarship is no longer only for those that are living in LDS communities and have spent their whole life growing up with conferences and devotionals. All of this is accessible now and scholarship is available to anyone.
That was a great talk. The footnotes in the Ensign indicate that 64% of the church membership are first-generation members.
We are the majority, and yet so often we are made to feel like outsiders.
Things like the Gospel Library archives really help me to get the big picture of what things were like before I joined.
To me technology assists me in my personal gospel study. Being able to read scriptures, see, hear, and read conference talks, read CES and Sunday School manuals, learn about my calling, listen to hymns, etc. all online is invaluable. As the world becomes more wicked we need more help to survive. Technology helps bring the spirit in a quick and powerful way. On the other side of the coin, technology helps to spread the gospel in an unprecedented way. I believe advances in technology were provided by the Lord to assist in the work of building Zion in the latter days. I expect the Church to continue using and investing in technology.